Five in a Row is the classic stone-placing strategy game (also known as gomoku). Take turns placing stones on the points of a 15 × 15 board; the first to make an unbroken line of five — across, down or diagonally — wins. Build double threats that can’t both be blocked, and stop your opponent’s open threes before they grow. Play a computer that thinks several moves ahead, or a friend on the same device.
How to play Five in a Row
Goal: Make an unbroken line of five or more stones before your opponent does.
Keyboard & mouse
- Click a point to place a stone
- Arrow keys move between points, Enter or Space places
- P or Escape to pause
Phone & tablet
- Tap a point to preview your stone, tap it again to place
- Options: computer level or a friend
Rules
- Players take turns placing one stone on any empty point.
- Five or more of your stones in a straight line — across, down or diagonally — wins.
- If the board fills with no line of five, the game is a draw.
- Against the computer, you alternate who starts each game; quick wins score more, multiplied by the level.
Tips and strategy
- An “open three” (three in a row with both ends free) must be answered, or it becomes an unstoppable open four.
- Aim for two threats at once — a four and an open three, or two open threes.
- Play near the action: stones far from others rarely help.
- When defending, block on the side that also builds one of your own lines.
